How to Be a Dissident

Reviews / Votes

Praise for How to be a Dissident: 'An inspiring tour of famous renegades with lessons for the rabble-rousers of today ... The book's stories are compellingly rendered, imparting clear and moving lessons or posing interesting moral challenges and ambiguities, especially when coupled with Beckerman's insightful commentary' New York Times Book Review 'This book reminded me how to be brave. Through galvanising storytelling, it shows how change so often begins with people who act with courage and conscience before they know what their actions will set in motion' Reni Eddo-Lodge, author of Why I'm No Longer Talking to White People About Race 'One way to change the world is to be yourself. This is harder than it sounds. Gal Beckerman, one of our most thoughtful commentators on the soul of politics, appealingly invites us to learn from those more courageous than ourselves' Timothy Snyder, author of On Tyranny 'A beautiful, profound book, rich in examples. It helped me to think more clearly, to feel heartened, and to focus on what is most important - all of which feels essential in these times' Sarah Bakewell, author of How to Live 'A sharp, cogent analysis of what dissidents really do to fight repressive regimes, with essential advice for anyone who wants to join them' Anne Applebaum, author of Autocracy, Inc. 'The book everyone needs NOW!' Daniel Kehlmann, author of The Director '[Beckerman] unpacks dissent as a kind of rough art. His book is both an instruction guide and a prime' Los Angeles Times 'Urgent, wise, and immensely compelling ... illuminates an inspiring gallery of history's independent thinkers, their lives both reassurance and exhortation in these challenging times. Everyone should read this book' Claire Messud, author of The Emperor's Children